Golf tee setting device

ABSTRACT

A golf tee setting device includes a generally tubular body defining a bore adapted to receive the head and shank of a golf tee, and a plunger within the bore with an axial face selectively positioned to a predetermined distance from a first end of the bore. A flexible membrane disposed in the bore proximate to its first end defines a plurality of generally radially-inwardly projecting fingers whose tips nominally radially engage the shank of a golf tee that has been inserted into the bore, whereby the shank of the received tee is radially stabilized within the bore. The membrane&#39;s fingers resiliently flex axially within the bore to permit the passage of the head of the tee, both as the tee is first received in the bore and thereafter when removing the device from a tee that has been set into the ground using the device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a device for setting a golf ball tee into a ground surface such that the tee extends to a predetermined height above the ground surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Because the head of each golf club has a “sweet spot,” i.e., an optimal location or area on its face for striking the golf ball to provide maximum distance and accuracy, the prior art has recognized the need to precisely and repeatably elevate the golf ball above the ground when hitting off of the tee. Golf ball tees, which generally include an enlarged head featuring a concave upper surface adapted to support the golf ball, and a stem or shank that terminates in a tapered tip (opposite the head) adapted to penetrate the ground surface, are typically used by golfers to support the golf ball at a desired height above the ground surface.

Traditionally, when teeing up the golf ball on a tee, a player holds a tee between two fingers of one hand while he seats a golf ball atop the tee's concave head, with the golf ball then resting in the player's palm. The player thereafter presses the tip of the tee against the ground surface and applies additional downward pressure with his palm against the seated golf ball until the tip and shank of the tee has penetrated the ground surface to a desired depth. The player then removes his hand from the inserted tee and golf ball to complete the process of teeing up the golf ball. Unfortunately, this traditional method of teeing up a golf ball often fails to provide the optimal elevation of the golf ball above the ground for a given golf club, leaving the player unable to optimally utilize the golf club when subsequently hitting the golf ball.

The prior art has responded by providing myriad devices for reproducibly inserting a golf ball tee to a preset depth or, alternatively, for reproducibly inserting a golf ball tee such that the tee's concave head extends to a predetermined height above the ground surface. At best, these known devices provide only limited lateral support for the shank of the tee as the tee is inserted into the ground, thereby compromising the manner in which the tee's tip and shank penetrate the ground surface. Moreover, the rigid elements of such known devices often disturb the inserted tee upon subsequent removal of the device from the inserted tee, thereby frustrating the player's attempt to dependably and reproducibly insert the tee into the ground surface to achieve the desired tee height.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a device is provided for setting a golf tee having an enlarged head, a shank and a tip into a ground surface such that the enlarged head is positioned at a predetermined height above the ground surface. The device includes a body that defines a space, such as a bore, within which to receive the head and at least a portion of the shank of the golf tee that is to be set into the ground surface. The device also includes a first flexible membrane disposed proximate to a first open end of the bore. The first flexible membrane defines a plurality of cantilevered fingers that project radially inwardly into the bore, preferably to thereby define plural pairs of generally diametrical finger tips adapted to radially engage the shank of a golf tee received within the bore. The tips of the first membrane's fingers thus operate to radially stabilize the shank of the golf tee received within the device as the device is used to urge the tip and shank of the golf tee into the ground surface. Further, each of the first membrane's fingers resiliently flexes axially relative to the bore to permit passage of the head of a golf tee into and out of the bore past the tip of each first finger.

While the invention contemplates defining the first fingers in any suitable manner, in an exemplary embodiment, a central aperture and a plurality of radially-outwardly extending slots are formed in a membrane to thereby obtain a desired number of radially-inwardly-extending fingers. Similarly, while the invention contemplates supporting the first membrane in any suitable manner on the body, such that the first membrane's fingers extend into the bore proximate to its first end, in an exemplary embodiment, the first membrane is mechanically secured within a counterbored portion of the bore proximate to the bore's first end, as through the use of a raised feature within the counterbored portion of the bore and/or a suitable adhesive.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the first membrane preferably defines at least two pairs of generally-diametrical finger tips adapted to simultaneously engage the shank of a golf tee whose head is disposed within the space (although an odd total number of such fingers is also contemplated by the invention, where desired). Further, the fingers and/or the tips of the fingers defined by the first membrane are preferably generally circumferentially-spaced about a periphery of the bore.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an exemplary embodiment of the device includes an elongate body defining a bore with a first open end adapted to receive the head and at least a portion of the shank of the tee, and a plunger received in the bore, wherein the plunger has an axial face disposed at a first predetermined distance from the first end of the bore, the predetermined distance being correlated with the predetermined height to which the tee is to be set in the ground surface using the device. The body also includes an external surface defining a slot in communication with the bore, and the plunger also includes a lateral projection extending through the slot. The body's slot and the plunger's lateral projection cooperate to define a plurality of detents, whereby the plunger is maintained in a selected one of a plurality of positions within the bore, each position disposing the axial face of the plunger at a respective predetermined distance from the first end of the bore. The plunger's lateral projection also advantageously provides a visual indication of the selected one of the positions and, in an exemplary embodiment, includes indicia whereby a player can quickly select the desired height to which the golf tee will be set using the device.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, in an exemplary embodiment, the bore has a second end opposite the first end, and the body includes a generally-concave upper surface proximate to the second end of the bore, whereby the upper surface is adapted to support a golf ball which can advantageously be used to provide a convenient palm rest as the device is used to set a golf tee. In an exemplary embodiment, the body's upper surface includes an aperture in communication with the bore, with the aperture of the upper surface being adapted to receive the tip and at least a portion of the shank of a golf tee such that the tip extends into the second end of the bore. The exemplary embodiment's plunger also advantageously includes an aperture sized to receive and radially engage the shank of a golf tee inserted through the aperture of the upper surface of the body, whereby the shank of the inserted golf tee can be inserted through the aperture in the body's upper surface and down into the bore to conveniently stow the tee until it is needed, while the plunger's relatively-smaller aperture can advantageously operate to mechanically retain the stowed tee within the bore's second end. A second membrane defining a second set of radial tee-shank-engaging fingers can also be disposed in the bore's second end, whose finger tips can likewise operate to mechanically retain the shank of the stowed tee within the second end of the bore.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the invention advantageously provides a golf tee setting device with a flexible membrane that radially stabilizes the shank of a received golf tee within the bore as the received golf tee is urged into the ground surface. The membrane's fingers thereafter resiliently flex axially within the bore as the device is thereafter removed, such that passage of the membrane's fingers over the enlarged head of the thus-set tee does not significantly alter the tee's height or position relative to the ground surface.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated upon a review of the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of an exemplary golf tee setting device in accordance with the invention, with a golf tee inserted into the device's central bore;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the exemplary golf tee setting device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is transverse section of the exemplary golf tee setting device taken along Line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing the device's radially-slotted tee-stabilizing membrane defining a plurality of fingers whose tips radially engage the shank of the inserted golf tee;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of the exemplary golf tee setting device of FIG. 1, illustrating the axial flexing of the fingers of the device's tee-stabilizing membrane as the tee is inserted into the device's central bore;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of the exemplary golf tee setting device of FIG. 1, illustrating the opposite axial flexing of the fingers of the tee-stabilizing membrane as the device is lifted off of a golf tee that has been set into the ground;

FIGS. 6A-6E are plan views of several alternative configurations for the tee-stabilizing membrane;

FIG. 7 is a further longitudinal section of the exemplary golf tee setting device of FIG. 1, illustrating a golf tee stowed in the device; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of an alternative cap for the exemplary golf tee setting device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary device 10 for setting a golf tee 12 includes a generally tubular body 14 defining a central bore 16 adapted to receive the enlarged head 18 and at least a portion of the shank 20 of the golf tee 12. The body 14 includes a generally-flat annular lower surface 22 adjacent to a first end 24 of the bore 16, with the lower surface being adapted to abuttingly engage the ground surface 26 when the golf tee 12 received within the device's bore 16 is set to a predetermined height. The body 14 also includes an enlarged annular concave upper surface 28 proximate to a second end 30 of the bore, as defined on a press-fit cap 32, for supporting a golf ball 34 when using the golf ball 34 to provide a larger, convex surface 35 against which a player may press when setting the golf tee 12 into the ground surface 26.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the device 10 includes a first, generally-flat, flexible membrane 36 disposed proximate to the first end 24 of the bore 16. The first membrane 36 (whose relative thickness is enlarged in the several Figures for clarity of illustration) defines a plurality of circumferentially-spaced cantilevered fingers 38 that project radially inwardly into the bore 16, preferably to thereby define plural pairs of generally-diametrical finger tips 40 adapted to radially engage the shank 20 of a golf tee 12 received within the bore 16. The tips 40 of the first membrane's fingers 38 thus operate to radially stabilize the shank 20 of the golf tee 12 as the device 10 is used to urge the tee's tip 42 and shank 20 into the ground surface 26.

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first membrane's fingers 38 resiliently flex axially relative to the bore 16 to thereby permit passage of the tee's enlarged head 18 into and out of the bore's first end 24, past the tip 40 of each finger 38. It will thus be appreciated that the invention contemplates a selection of a membrane that is formed of a suitable material that provides the membrane's fingers 38 with sufficient rigidity, within the nominal plane of the membrane 36, to resist a relative movement of the tee's shank 20 when setting the tee 12 into the ground surface 26 and, yet, is sufficiently flexible to permit removal of the device 10 from the thus-set tee 12 without significantly affecting the height of the tee 12 relative to the ground surface 26. A preferred material for the first membrane 36 is a thermoplastic elastomer, such as the alloyed mixture of an EPDM rubber with polypropylene sold under the trademark “Saniprene” by the Monsanto Company. Other alternative materials include, for example, various plastic sheeting, and water-resistant heavy-duty felt.

Returning to FIG. 3, while the invention contemplates defining the first membrane's fingers 38 in any suitable manner, the first membrane 36 of the exemplary device 10 includes a central aperture 44 and a plurality of radially-outwardly-extending slots 46 with which to define the desired number of radially-inwardly-extending fingers 38. If the first membrane 36 is formed of “Saniprene” or other plastic sheeting, the central aperture 44 and radial slots 46 may be conveniently formed by die cutting. It will also be appreciated that the invention contemplates the use of first membranes 36 having a finger configuration other than the one best shown in FIG. 3; several exemplary membranes 48,50,52,54,56 featuring alternative finger configurations are shown in FIGS. 6A-6E, respectively.

Referring again to FIG. 2, while the invention contemplates supporting the first membrane 36 in any suitable manner on the body 14, such that the first membrane's fingers 38 extend into the bore 16 proximate to its first end 24, in the exemplary device 10, the first membrane 36 is mechanically secured within a counterbored portion 58 of the bore 16 proximate to the bore's first end 24, as through the use of a peripheral ridge 60 within the counterbored portion 58 of the bore 16.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the device 10 further includes an external surface 62 defining a slot 64 in communication with the bore 16, and a plunger 66 received in the bore 16 that includes a lateral projection 68 extending through the slot 64. The plunger 66 further includes an axial face 70 disposed at a first predetermined distance from the bore's first end 24 that is correlated with the predetermined height to which the tee 12 is to be set in the ground surface 26 using the device 10. The body's slot 64 and the plunger's lateral projection 68 cooperate to define a plurality of detents, whereby the plunger 66 is maintained in a selected one of a plurality of positions within the bore 16, each plunger position disposing the plunger's axial face at a respective predetermined distance from the bore's first end 24. The plunger's lateral projection 68 also advantageously provides a visual indication of the selected one of the positions and, in an exemplary embodiment, includes indicia (not shown) whereby a player can quickly select the desired height to which the tee 12 will be set using the device 10.

As best seen in FIG. 7, the body's upper surface 28 includes an aperture 72 in communication with the bore 16, with the aperture 72 of the upper surface 28 being adapted to receive the tip 42 and at least a portion of the shank 20 of a tee 12 such that the tip 42 extends into the bore's second end 30. The plunger 66 also includes an aperture 74 sized to receive the shank 20 of a tee 12 that has been inserted through the aperture 72 of the body's upper surface 28, whereby the shank 20 of the inserted golf tee 12 can pass through the aperture 72 in the body's upper surface 28 and down into the bore 16 to conveniently stow the tee 12 until it is needed, irrespective of the selected position of the plunger 66 within the bore 16. It will be appreciated that the plunger's aperture 74 is advantageously sized to slightly radially engage the shank 20 of the stowed tee 12 to thereby advantageously further retain the stowed tee 12 within the second end 30 of the bore 16 until needed.

Also as seen in FIG. 7, a second membrane 76 defining a second set of radial tee-shank-engaging fingers 78 is disposed in the bore's second end 30, whose finger tips 80 likewise operate to mechanically retain the shank 20 of the stowed tee 12 within the bore's second end 30.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative cap 82 for the exemplary golf tee setting device 10, featuring an enlarged upper concave surface 84 for supporting a golf ball (not shown) when using the golf ball to provide a larger, convex surface against which the player may press with his palm, when setting a golf tee using the device 10.

While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the subjoined claims. For example, while the foregoing description discloses the device's golf tee-receiving space as a generally-cylindrical bore, the invention contemplates use of any suitable space, such as a slot defined within the body, within which to receive the golf tee, so long as the space axially and radially supports the tee's head while the device is used to set the tee into the ground surface (the tee's shank otherwise being radially stabilized when setting the tee by the first membrane's finger tips). 

1. A device for setting a golf tee having an enlarged head, a shank and a tip into a ground surface such that the enlarged head is positioned at a predetermined height above the ground surface, the device comprising: an elongate body defining a bore with a first open end adapted to receive the head and at least a portion of the shank of the tee, the bore having a nominal axis; a plunger received in the bore, the plunger including an axial face disposed at a first predetermined distance from the first end of the bore, the predetermined distance being correlated with the predetermined height; and a plurality of first fingers projecting radially inwardly into the bore, wherein the first fingers are generally circumferentially spaced about a periphery of the bore proximate to the first end, each first finger defines a tip adapted to radially engage the shank of a golf tee received within the bore, and each first finger resiliently flexes axially relative to the bore to permit passage of the head of a golf tee into and out of the bore past the tip of each first finger.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first fingers are defined by slotted portions of a first flexible membrane.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the body includes a counterbored portion of the bore proximate to the first end of the bore, and wherein the first flexible membrane is disposed within the counterbored portion of the bore.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the first flexible membrane is mechanically secured within the counterbored portion of the bore.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the body includes an external surface defining a slot in communication with the bore, and the plunger includes a lateral projection extending through the slot; and wherein the slot and the lateral projection cooperate to define a plurality of detents, whereby the plunger is maintained in a selected one of a plurality of positions within the bore, each position disposing the axial face of the plunger at a respective predetermined distance from the first end of the bore.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the lateral projection provides a visual indication of the selected one of the positions.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the body includes a generally-flat annular lower surface adjacent to the first end of the bore, the lower surface being adapted to abuttingly engage the ground surface when a golf tee received in the bore is set to the predetermined height.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the bore has a second end opposite the first end, and wherein the body includes a generally-concave upper surface proximate to the second end of the bore, whereby the upper surface is adapted to support a golf ball.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the upper surface includes an aperture in communication with the bore, the aperture of the upper surface being adapted to receive the tip and at least a portion of the shank of a golf tee such that the tip extends into the second end of the bore.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the plunger includes an aperture sized to receive and radially engage the shank of a golf tee inserted through the aperture of the upper surface of the body, whereby the shank of the inserted golf tee is mechanically retained within the second end of the bore.
 11. The device of claim 9, further including a plurality of generally-circumferentially-spaced second fingers projecting radially inwardly into the bore proximate the second end, wherein each second finger defines a tip adapted to radially engage the shank of a golf tee extending through the aperture of the upper surface to thereby mechanically retain the extending shank of the golf tee within the bore.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the second fingers are defined by slotted portions of a second flexible membrane secured within the bore proximate to the second end.
 13. A device for setting a golf tee having an enlarged head and a shank into a ground surface such that an uppermost surface of the head of the golf tee is positioned at a predetermined height above the ground surface, the device comprising: a body defining a bore with a first open end adapted to receive the head and at least a portion of the shank of the tee, the bore having a nominal axis; and a flexible membrane disposed within the bore proximate to the first end, wherein the membrane has a central aperture and a plurality of slots extending generally outwardly from the central aperture to thereby define a plurality of inwardly-cantilevered fingers, each finger defines a tip adapted to radially engage the shank of a golf tee when the golf tee is received within the bore, and each finger resiliently flexes axially relative to the bore to permit passage of the head of a golf tee into and out of the bore past the tip of each finger.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the fingers are generally circumferentially-spaced about a periphery of the bore.
 15. The device of claim 13, wherein a first pair of generally-diametrical finger tips are adapted to simultaneously engage the shank of a golf tee whose head is disposed within the central bore of the housing.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein a second pair of generally-diametrical finger tips are adapted to simultaneously engage the shank of the golf tee.
 17. The device of claim 13, wherein the body includes a counterbored portion of the bore proximate to the first end of the bore, and wherein the membrane is retained within the counterbored portion of the bore.
 18. The device of claim 13, further including a plunger received in the bore, the plunger including an axial face disposed at a first predetermined distance from the first end of the bore, the first predetermined distance being correlated with the predetermined height.
 19. The device of claim 18, wherein the body includes an external surface defining a slot in communication with the bore, and the plunger includes a lateral projection extending through the slot, the slot of the body and the lateral projection of the plunger cooperating to define a plurality of detents, whereby the plunger is maintained in a selected one of a plurality of positions within the bore, each position being characterized such that the axial face of the plunger is disposed at a respective predetermined distance from the first end of the bore.
 20. In a device for setting a golf ball tee having an enlarged head, a shank, and a tip, the device defining a space adapted to receive the head and at least a portion of the shank of the golf tee such that the tip of the golf tee projects from the first end of the space along an axis, the improvement comprising: a flexible membrane supported on the body defining a plurality of cantilevered fingers extending into the space, wherein each finger defines a tip adapted to radially engage the shank of a golf tee when the golf tee is received within the space, and wherein each finger resiliently flexes axially relative to the shank of the received golf tee to permit passage of the head of a golf tee out of the space past the tip of each finger.
 21. The device of claim 20, wherein the membrane defines a first pair of generally-diametrical finger tips adapted to simultaneously engage the shank of a golf tee whose head is disposed within the space.
 22. The device of claim 21, wherein the membrane defines at least a second pair of generally-diametrical finger tips adapted to simultaneously engage the shank of the golf tee.
 23. The device of claim 20, wherein the space defined in the body is a bore, wherein the bore includes a counterbored portion proximate to a first open end of the bore, and wherein the membrane is retained within the counterbored portion of the bore.
 24. The device of claim 23, wherein the fingers are generally circumferentially-spaced about a periphery of the bore. 